National Road Victims Month

National Road Victims Month – August 2022

When do the most road traffic accidents happen in the U.K.? The winter with its wet and icy roads and restricted visibility? Surprisingly it is August when most fatalities happen on the British roads. Road traffic accident charity RoadPeace now recognise August as National Road Victims Month. Some of the most notable road traffic deaths occurred in August. Including Bridget O’Driscoll, the first person to be killed by a car in the U.K. on 17th August 1896 and Princess Diana who tragically passed away in in Paris on the 31st August 1997.  RoadPeace will hold their annual memorial service on 12th August at RoadPeace Wood at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire. They also encourage people to leave flowers and wreaths at the sites of accidents, only where safe to do so, in the month of August.

Why does August see more road traffic accidents? An sharp incline of traffic on the roads from holidaymakers as well as more pedestrians; including children that are off school, are majorly responsible for the increase in accidents and collisions.

In 2020, 1,516 people were killed on UK roads, with 1,460 deaths recorded in Britain and 56 recorded in Northern Ireland.

This shows a massive decline compared with the previous 5 years of data, notably due to the national lockdowns imposed in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Previously from 2012-2019 the U.K. had averaged 1,850 deaths annually, or 5 deaths per day.

Serious injury data is more difficult to analyse due to the changes in the way Police record severity. However, the data still shows that over 22,000 serious injuries happen on the British roads every year, equivalent to 60 serious injuries a day on average.

What effect does this have on Case Management and Expert Witnesses?

Industry leaders in the recruitment sectors estimate that there will be an 11% increase in demand for Case Managers by 2024 and the U.K. register of Expert Witnesses has already grown to over 3,000 experts in the U.K.

 Find out more about RoadPeace and their campaign for safer roads by visiting : RoadPeace